Method for maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic cells by power converters and power combiners

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that provides an output current at voltages useful to operate electronics or charge batteries. This invention also relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner that combines the output of the multiple photovoltaic cells into a single output. The power combiner is comprised of multiple power converters, one for each photovoltaic cell. Each power converter used in these methods has an input-regulating element that has an output wave form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage and current. As a result only the photovoltaic cell voltage is directly measured in these methods and the photovoltaic cell current is determined indirectly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/133,979 filed on Jul. 3, 2008 which is hereby incorporated byreference.

This invention was made with Government support under AgreementW911NF-05-9-0005 awarded by the Government. The Government has certainrights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for solar cell Maximum Power PointTracking (MPPT) by power converters and by power combiners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Small power sources such as photovoltaic cells, and in particular solarcells, are being used to power portable devices or to charge a batterypack. The well-known boost chopper power converter circuit has been usedin conjunction with such power sources in portable applications. Thistype of power converter takes input current at a low voltage, e.g., asingle silicon solar cell has an output of about 0.5 volts, and producesan output current at a higher voltage that can be used to operatehandheld electronics or charge a battery pack.

When it is desired to use the power of multiple power sources theoutputs of the individual sources have to be combined. Traditionally,the power sources such as like-type silicon solar cells have beenconnected in some series-parallel combination to provide the voltage andcurrent outputs required for the particular application. For example,one type of solar cell battery charger connects the solar cells inseries to approximate the battery voltage. The output is then fed intothe battery through a diode. However, this architecture is inefficientand the rechargeable batteries quickly wear out. Another approachsimulates the AC outlet that users can plug into with a solar cellpowered equivalent. This architecture is inherently inefficient sincethe battery chargers incorporated in most consumer electronics are notdesigned for efficient operation with limited sources of power.

A photovoltaic cell connected to an electrical load such as a resistoracts as a power-limited current source. Its current output depends onthe rate of incident radiation and the temperature of the cell. Atypical plot of cell current versus cell voltage for a photovoltaic cellis shown in FIG. 1.for five different incident radiations. Curve Acorresponds to an incident radiation of 1000 Wm², curve B—800 W/m²,curve C—600 W/m², curve D—400 W/m² and curve E—200 W/m². These curvesclearly show that cell current depends on the degree of incidentradiation. The cell output current collapses if the load attempts todraw too much power from the cell. A typical plot of output power versuscell voltage for a photovoltaic cell is shown in FIG. 2 for the samefive different incident radiations used in FIG. 1. Curve A correspondsto an incident radiation of 1000 W/m², curve B—800 W/m², curve C—600W/m², curve D—400 W/m² and curve E—200 W/m². There is a specificoperating point, the maximum power point, MPP, with a specific voltage,V_(MPP), and current, I_(MPP), at which maximum power output is producedfrom the cell. As apparent from FIG. 2, the MPP is a function of theincident radiation. The MPP is also a function of the cell temperature.

It is most efficient, and therefore highly desirable to use MaximumPower Point Tracking (MPPT), i.e., to operate a photovoltaic cell at itsMPP. This means finding and tracking the V_(MPP) and I_(MPP). It is evenmore challenging to accomplish MPPT for a photovoltaic array made up ofmany solar cells that operate under slightly different temperature andirradiance conditions. Two sensors are usually required to measurephotovoltaic cell voltage and photovoltaic cell current. Current sensorsare typically more expensive and bulky than voltage sensors.

To obtain maximum power from a photovoltaic array of solar cells, onehas to perform MPPT on every solar cell. The number of sensors andhardware complexity required to run MPPT on every solar cell in thearray is prohibitively expensive. Instead, MPPT is usually performed onone solar cell or on one group of connected solar cells in the array andthe results applied to the whole array.

Recent solar cell architectures use multiple cells that efficientlyabsorb different portions of the solar spectrum and thereby achievehigher overall conversion efficiency than traditional solar cells usinga single type of cell. Since the cells and their characteristics are notidentical, to obtain maximum power from such a solar cell architectureMPPT must be carried out for each cell.

Thus there is a continuing need for a method for MPPT a photovoltaiccell, an array of photovoltaic cells and an architecture of differenttype photovoltaic cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that converts the powerprovided by the photovoltaic cell and provides an output current at anoutput voltage that is greater than and not dependent on the inputvoltage, the method comprising:

-   -   (a) connecting the photovoltaic cell to a power converter        containing an input-regulating element that has an output wave        form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic        cell voltage and current and determining the relationship        between the characteristic of the output wave form and the        photovoltaic cell voltage and current;    -   (b) directly measuring the photovoltaic cell voltage;    -   (c) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and        the relationship between the characteristic of the output wave        form of the input-regulating element and the photovoltaic cell        voltage and current to determine the photovoltaic cell current;    -   (d) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and        the photovoltaic cell current determined in step (c) in a MPPT        algorithm to determine the voltage at which the input-regulating        element should operate the photovoltaic cell to achieve MPPT;        and    -   (e) adjusting the voltage at which the input-regulating element        is operating the photovoltaic cell to the level determined in        step (d).        Preferably, the method further comprises:    -   (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) to maintain MPPT during the        operation of the photovoltaic cell.

In one embodiment, the input-regulating element is a hysteretic voltagecomparator, the characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cellvoltage and current is the switching frequency of the output wave formof the hysteretic voltage comparator and the current of the photovoltaiccell is determined using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step(b) and the relationship between the switching frequency of the outputwave form of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cellvoltage and current.

Preferably, the power converter interfaces with a microcontroller forperforming the MPPT. In one such embodiment in which the photovoltaiccell is connected to a power converter that interfaces with amicrocontroller for performing the MPPT, the power converter has acircuit comprising:

-   -   (i) first and second input terminals for connection to the        photovoltaic cell providing an input voltage;    -   (ii) a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the first        input terminal and a second terminal connected to the second        input terminal;    -   (iii) said hysteretic voltage comparator having at least three        terminals, wherein a first terminal is an input terminal        connected to the first terminal of the capacitor, a second        terminal is an input terminal for inputting a reference voltage        that sets the voltage at which the photovoltaic cell operates        and a third terminal is an output terminal;    -   (iv) a switch having a first terminal connected to the third        terminal of the hysteretic voltage comparator to thereby receive        the output signal from the hysteretic voltage comparator, a        second terminal connected to the second terminal of the        capacitor and a third terminal, whereby the output signal from        the hysteretic voltage comparator serves to open and close the        switch such that when the voltage on the capacitor exceeds the        high threshold voltage of the hysteretic voltage comparator the        switch is closed and when the voltage on the capacitor decreases        to the low threshold voltage of the hysteretic voltage        comparator the switch is open;    -   (v) an inductor having a first terminal connected to the first        terminal of the capacitor and a second terminal connected to the        third terminal of the switch;    -   (vi) an output rectifier having a first terminal connected to        the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal;    -   (vii) first and second output terminals, wherein the first        output terminal is connected to the second terminal of the        output rectifier and the second output terminal is connected to        the second terminal of the switch; and        wherein the microcontroller interfaces with the power converter        using three I/O ports, wherein port 1 is connected to the first        terminal for connection to the photovoltaic cell and the analog        input to port 1 provides a measure of the photovoltaic cell        voltage to the microcontroller, port 2 is connected to the        output terminal of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the        digital input to port 2 provides the output waveform of the        hysteretic voltage comparator to the microcontroller, and port 3        is connected to the second terminal of the hysteretic voltage        comparator and the analog output of port 3 provides the voltage        in step (e) at which the hysteretic voltage comparator operates        the photovoltaic cell.

This invention also provides a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking(MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner that combines theoutput power of the multiple photovoltaic cells into a single output,the power combiner comprising a parallel arrangement of multiplecircuits, wherein a different one of the multiple circuits is allocatedto each of the multiple photovoltaic cells and wherein each of thesecircuits is a complete power converter circuit or forms a complete powerconverter circuit when connected to one or more shared elements thatthese circuits share, the method comprising, for each of the multiplephotovoltaic cells:

-   -   (a) connecting the photovoltaic cell to its allocated circuit        containing an input-regulating element that has an output wave        form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic        cell voltage and current and determining the relationship        between the characteristic of the output wave form and the        photovoltaic cell voltage and current;    -   (b) directly measuring the photovoltaic cell voltage;    -   (c) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and        the relationship between the characteristic of the output wave        form of the input-regulating element of the allocated power        converter and the photovoltaic cell voltage and current to        determine the photovoltaic cell current;    -   (d) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and        the photovoltaic cell current determined in step (c) in a MPPT        algorithm to determine the voltage at which the input-regulating        element of the allocated circuit should operate the photovoltaic        cell to achieve MPPT; and    -   (e) adjusting the voltage at which the input-regulating element        of the allocated circuit is operating the photovoltaic cell to        the level determined in step (d).        Preferably, the method further comprises, for each of the        multiple photovoltaic cells:    -   (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) to maintain MPPT during the        operation of the photovoltaic cell.

In one embodiment, the input-regulating element in each of the multiplecircuits is a hysteretic voltage comparator that has an output wave formthe switching frequency of which is related to the photovoltaic cellvoltage and current and the current of the photovoltaic cell isdetermined using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) andthe relationship between the switching frequency of the output wave formof the hysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cell voltageand current.

Preferably, each of the multiple circuits interfaces with amicrocontroller for performing MPPT.

In one embodiment wherein each of the multiple circuits allocated to thevarious photovoltaic cells is a complete power converter circuit, allthe power converter circuits are identical. For example, each powerconverter circuit may be the one described in detail above. In anotherembodiment, the power converter circuits are not identical.

For the embodiments wherein each of the multiple circuits allocated tothe various photovoltaic cells share one or more elements with the othercircuits in order to form a complete power converter circuit, no morethan one circuit is connected to the one or more shared elements at anygiven time.

The method for MPPT is useful with photovoltaic cells, particularlysolar cells, that are operating under variable irradiance andtemperature conditions. The method for MPPT multiple photovoltaic cellsby a power combiner is useful when the solar cell unit is comprised ofmultiple like-type cells and multiple cells of different types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows typical plots of photovoltaic cell current versus cellvoltage for various incident radiation.

FIG. 2 shows typical plots of photovoltaic cell power versus cellvoltage for various incident radiation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the power converterthat can be used in the instant method.

FIG. 4 is a plot of the switching frequency of the hysteretic voltagecomparator shown in the circuit of FIG. 3 versus photovoltaic cellcurrent with photovoltaic cell voltage held constant.

FIG. 5 is a plot of photovoltaic cell voltage versus the switchingfrequency of the hysteretic voltage comparator shown in the circuit ofFIG. 3 with photovoltaic cell current held constant.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the power combinerthat can be used in the instant method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The method of MPPT of a photovoltaic cell by a power converter isapplicable when the power converter is a lone power converter MPPT asingle photovoltaic cell and when the power converter is one of two ormore power converters in a power combiner wherein each power converteris MPPT a photovoltaic cell to which it is allocated.

In order to obtain maximum output power from the power converter it isnecessary to operate the photovoltaic cell at its MPP. To do this it isnecessary to know the voltage and current at which the photovoltaic cellis operating and then use one of the various algorithms that have beendeveloped (see, e.g., T. Esram And P. L. Chapman, IEEE Transaction onEnergy Conversion, Vol. 22, Issue 2, 439-449 2007) to locate and trackthe MPP and operate the photocell at that point. Typically this meanshaving sensors to directly measure both the voltage and current at whichthe photovoltaic cell is operating. The instant MPPT method operateswithout the need to directly measure the photovoltaic cell current.Instead, the current is indirectly determined by using a characteristicof the output waveform of the input-regulating element of the powerconverter. The characteristic is related to the photovoltaic cellcurrent and voltage. The current is determined by using the relationshipbetween that characteristic and the photovoltaic cell current andvoltage and the directly measured voltage. This eliminates the need forthe usually more bulky and expensive current sensor.

In one embodiment, the input-regulating element is a hysteretic voltagecomparator. The characteristic of the output wave form of the hystereticvoltage comparator that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent is its switching frequency. The current of the photovoltaic cellis determined using the measured photovoltaic cell voltage and therelationship between the switching frequency of the output wave form ofthe hysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent.

The method for MPPT a photovoltaic cell by a power converter with aninput-regulating element that is a hysteretic voltage comparator can beillustrated using the particular power converter circuit shown in FIG.3. Any power converter with an input-regulating element that has anoutput wave form with a characteristic that is related to thephotovoltaic cell voltage and current can also be used in the instantmethod. As shown in FIG. 3, the photovoltaic cell is connected to apower converter that interfaces with a microcontroller for performingMPPT. The power converter has a circuit 10 comprising the followingelements. A first input terminal 11 and a second input terminal 12provide for connection to the photovoltaic cell PC. A capacitor 13 has afirst terminal connected to the first input terminal and a secondterminal connected to the second input terminal. A hysteretic voltagecomparator 14 has a first terminal connected to the first terminal ofthe capacitor, a second terminal 15 for inputting a reference voltageand a third terminal 21 that is an output terminal. Switch 16 has afirst terminal connected to the third terminal of the hysteretic voltagecomparator 14 to thereby receive the output signal from the hystereticvoltage comparator 14. The output signal from the hysteretic voltagecomparator 14 serves to open and close the switch 16. The switch 16 alsohas a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the capacitorand a third terminal. An inductor 17 has a first terminal connected tothe first terminal of the capacitor 13 and a second terminal connectedto the third terminal of the switch 16. An output rectifier 18 has afirst terminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor 17 and asecond terminal connected to the first output terminal 19. The secondoutput terminal 20 is connected to the second terminal of the switch 16.Preferably, the second input terminal, the second terminal of thecapacitor, the second terminal of the switch and the second outputterminal are all connected to ground.

This power converter operates in the following fashion. The photovoltaiccell PC charges the capacitor 13 until the voltage on capacitor 13exceeds the high threshold voltage of hysteretic voltage comparator 14.This causes hysteretic voltage comparator 14 to close switch 16 and“bleed off” current when excess voltage is accumulated across thephotovoltaic cell. An increasing current flows from capacitor 13 throughthe inductor 17 and switch 16 to ground, discharging the energy fromcapacitor 13 and storing it in the magnetic field of inductor 17. Whenthe voltage on capacitor 13 has fallen to the low threshold voltage ofhysteretic voltage comparator 14, the switch 16 is opened. The energystored in the inductor 17 acts as a current source and raises thevoltage at output rectifier 18 until it surpasses the level at theoutput terminal 19. Current flows through the output rectifier 18 andout of the converter through output terminal 19. When the energy storedin inductor 17 is exhausted, the rectifier ceases conduction and thepower converter is returned to its original state. The cycle repeatswhen capacitor 13 is again charged to a sufficient level. The voltage atthe output terminal is greater than the voltage of the power source atthe input terminal.

The circuit elements can take various forms. The capacitor 13 can be asingle capacitor or two or more capacitors arranged in parallel and/orseries configurations. The hysteretic voltage comparator 14 can becomprised of a commercially available externally referenced integratedcircuit comparator or a self-referencing circuit. The switch 16 can becomprised of a bipolar transistor or a field effect transistor andresistors to set the high and low switching threshold voltages. Theinductor 17 can be a single inductor or coupled inductors to providefurther flexibility in operational range. A flyback converter can beused with a transformer in place of the inductor 17 and the outputrectifier connected to the secondary winding of the transformer. Theoutput rectifier 18 can be in form of a diode or, if pulse outputs arenot desired, the pulses can be easily filtered to DC by using acapacitor in conjunction with the diode. Alternatively, a synchronousrectifier structure can be used in place of the diode. In anothervariation a flyback converter can be used in place of the inductor 17.Other forms for these elements will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

As described, the hysteretic voltage comparator 14 toggles the switch 16on and off. At high levels of irradiance, e.g., in the case of a solarcell on a sunny day, the switch is toggled relatively quickly. At lowlevels of irradiance, e.g., in the case of the same solar cell on acloudy day, the switch is toggled at a slower rate. Operation of thepower converter shown in FIG. 3 was simulated to determine therelationship between the switching frequency of the output wave formhysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent The results are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a plot ofswitching frequency (x-axis in Hertz) versus cell current (y-axis inmilliAmperes) with cell voltage held constant. The three curvescorrespond to cell voltages of I—2.3V, II—1.487V and III—0.868V. Thesecurves show that increasing cell current results in higher switchingfrequency when the cell voltage is held constant. FIG. 5 is a plot ofcell voltage (x-axis in Volts) versus switching frequency (y-axis inHertz) with cell current held constant. The three curves correspond tocell currents of IV—1 mA, V—2 mA and VI—3 mA. These curves show thatincreasing cell voltage results in lower switching frequency when thecell current is held constant.

FIG. 3 also shows the microcontroller that interfaces with the powerconverter for performing MPPT. The microcontroller 22 interfaces withthe power converter using three I/O ports. The first port 23 isconnected to the first terminal for connection to the photovoltaic cell,input terminal 11 and the analog input to port 23 provides a measure ofthe photovoltaic cell voltage to the microcontroller 22. The second port24 is connected to the output terminal 21 of the hysteretic voltagecomparator 14 and the digital input to port 24 provides the outputwaveform of the hysteretic voltage comparator to the microcontroller.The third port 25 is connected to the second terminal 15 of thehysteretic voltage comparator 14 and the analog output of port 25provides the voltage in step (e) of the method at which the hystereticvoltage comparator 14 operates the photovoltaic cell PC.

The method of MPPT can be implemented in various ways. One possibleimplementation follows. When the photovoltaic cell PC is connected tothe input terminals 11 and 12 and power supplied to the power converter10 and microcontroller 22, the microcontroller 22 sets the analog outputvoltage of port 25 at some reasonable predetermined value to input toterminal 15 of the hysteretic voltage comparator 14. As an example, foroperation with a single silicon solar cell, a value of 0.35 Volts wouldbe a reasonable initial value. The microcontroller 22 measures the solarcell voltage using the analog input to port 23 and determines theswitching frequency of the output wave form of the hysteretic voltagecomparator 14 using the digital input to port 24. Using the relationshipbetween the switching frequency and the solar cell voltage and current,the microcontroller can determine the current output of the solar celland, from the voltage and current, the power output of the solar cell.The microcontroller then perturbs the analog output voltage of port 25and uses the new inputs to ports 23 and 24 to determine new values forthe solar cell voltage and current and tracks how the output powerchanges as the analog output voltage of port 25 is perturbed. One of thevarious MPPT algorithms mentioned above can then be applied by themicrocontroller to locate and track an operating point that producesmaximum power output.

The relationship between the output wave form of the input-regulatingelement and the photovoltaic cell voltage and current can be determinedwhen the particular photovoltaic cell to be used with the powerconverter is connected to the power converter for actual use and thedata supplied to the microcontroller. Alternatively, the relationshipcan be determined at a time prior to use either using the particularphotovoltaic cell and power converter that are to be paired. When manypairs of like photovoltaic cells and like power converters are beingpaired, representative samples of each can be used to established therelationship.

A power combiner can be used to provide the single output with the powerfrom one or more photovoltaic cells. The power combiner can be used tocombine the power from photovoltaic cells that are alike or different.For example when used with multiple like-type photovoltaic cells thepower combiner can be used to combine the power from individual cells orfrom parallel or series combinations of these cells. A power combiner isespecially useful when combining the outputs of photovoltaic cells thatare not alike, e.g., when combining the power from multiple cellswherein the cells are of different types. The various cells can bechosen so that each converts different ranges of the solar spectrum andthereby provides more efficiency. For MPPT, the voltage across each cellmust be regulated at a particular temperature-compensated value toprovide optimum operation of that cell.

This invention also provides a method for MPPT multiple photovoltaiccells by a power combiner that combines the output power of the multiplephotovoltaic cells into a single output, the power combiner comprising aparallel arrangement of multiple circuits, wherein a different one ofthe multiple circuits is allocated to each of the multiple photovoltaiccells and wherein each of these circuits is a complete power convertercircuit or forms a complete power converter circuit when connected toone or more shared elements that these circuits share. When elements areshared, no more than one circuit is connected to the shared elements atany given time.

The power combiner is comprised of multiple circuits, wherein adifferent one of the circuits is allocated to each of the multiple powersources For example, if there are n power sources there will be ncircuits, one for each of the power sources. The multiple circuits canbe different or identical. As used herein “identical circuits” indicatesthat the circuits have the same components. Even though the componentsare the same, their values and the operation of the circuits can differ,e.g., the hysteretic voltage comparators internal or external referencevoltages can be different in order to achieve MPPT.

The method for MPPT multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner inwhich each of the multiple circuits is a complete power convertercircuit with an input-regulating element that is a hysteretic voltagecomparator can be illustrated using the particular power convertercircuit shown in FIG. 3. This embodiment is shown schematically in FIG.6 wherein each of the multiple power converter circuits interfaces witha microcontroller for performing MPPT. For simplicity, the powercombiner 40 is shown with only two photovoltaic cells and two powerconverter circuits, but any number can be used. In addition, bothcircuits interface with the same microcontroller. Comparable circuitelements are labeled with the same numbers used for the schematicdrawing of FIG. 3. In each circuit the second input terminal 12A or 12B,the second terminal of the capacitor and the second terminal of theswitch are all connected to ground. The second output terminal 20C isaccordingly connected to ground. Photovoltaic cell PCA is connected topower converter circuit 10A using input terminal 11A and ground terminal12A. The various circuit elements capacitor 13A, voltage comparator 14Awith terminal 15A for inputting a reference voltage and output terminal21A, switch 16A, inductor 17A and output rectifier 18A all are connectedas described previously for the power converter shown in FIG. 3 and thecircuit 10A operates in the manner described previously. Photovoltaiccell PCB is connected to power converter circuit 10B using inputterminal 11B and ground terminal 12B. Power converter circuit 10B hasthe same elements and terminals, i.e., 13B through 18B and 21B, as powerconverter circuit 10A. They all are also connected as describedpreviously for the power converter shown in FIG. 3 and the circuit 10Boperates in the manner described previously. The second terminal of theoutput rectifier of each power converter circuit is connected to thecommon output terminal 19C and current flows out of the output rectifierof each of the power converter circuits and out of the power combinerthrough output terminal 19C.

FIG. 6 also shows the microcontroller that interfaces with the powercombiner for performing MPPT of the two photoelectric cells. Themicrocontroller 22C interfaces with each of the power converter circuitsof the power combiner using six I/O ports, three I/O ports for each ofthe power converter circuits The first port 23A for power converter 10Ais connected to the first terminal for connection to the photovoltaiccell, input terminal 11A, and the analog input to port 23A provides ameasure of the photovoltaic cell PCA voltage to the microcontroller 22C.The second port 24A is connected to the output terminal 21A of thehysteretic voltage comparator 14A and the digital input to port 24Aprovides the output waveform of the hysteretic voltage comparator 14A tothe microcontroller. The third port 25A is connected to the secondterminal 15A of the hysteretic voltage comparator 14A and the analogoutput of port 25A provides the voltage in step (e) of the method atwhich the hysteretic voltage comparator 14A operates the photovoltaiccell PCA. The three ports 23B, 24B and 25B are similarly connected to11B, 21B and 15B, respectively, for the same purposes.

FIG. 6 shows a single microcontroller 22C providing MPPT for each of thetwo photovoltaic cells in a manner as described above for thephotovoltaic cell connected to a power converter. The microcontrollerperforms MPPT for photovoltaic cell PCA and then for photovoltaic cellPCB and then repeats the process alternately providing MPPT for the twocells in a round-robin method. A single microcontroller can perform MPPTon more than one photovoltaic cell, or more than one group of likecells, using such a round-robin method, i.e., addressing each in turn.To provide MPPT for n photovoltaic cells, the microcontroller requires3n ports to accommodate n analog inputs, n digital inputs and n analogoutputs from the n power converter circuits. As the number of cells, orgroups of cells, being tracked increases, the MPPT speed of any onephotovoltaic cell decreases. Multiple microcontrollers can be used toincrease MPPT speed; however, using fewer microcontrollers, andparticularly a single microcontroller, is attractive because it reducessystem cost.

The method for MPPT multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner canalso be used with a power combiner in which the multiple circuitsallocated to the various photovoltaic cells are not complete powerconverter circuits but rather share one or more elements. The circuitsmay be different or identical. When a circuit is connected to the one ormore shared elements, the circuit and the shared elements form acomplete input-regulating high-output impedance power converter circuit.No more than one circuit is connected to the shared elements at anygiven time, The same microcontroller that performs MPPT can periodicallycycle through and connect and disconnect the circuits to the sharedelements and thereby simultaneously process each of the photovoltaiccells and provide MPPT for each of the photovoltaic cells.

As used herein, “input-regulating” has its usual meaning, i.e., thepower converter senses the input voltage and maintains it at a certainlevel.

As used herein, “high output impedance” has its usual meaning, i.e., theoutput looks like a current source.

1. A method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cellby a power converter that converts the power provided by thephotovoltaic cell and provides an output current at an output voltagethat is greater than and not dependent on the input voltage, said methodcomprising: (a) connecting the photovoltaic cell to a power convertercontaining an input-regulating element that has an output wave form witha characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent and determining the relationship between the characteristic ofthe output wave form and the photovoltaic cell voltage and current; (b)directly measuring the photovoltaic cell voltage; (c) using thephotovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b) and the relationshipbetween said characteristic of the output wave form of theinput-regulating element and the photovoltaic cell voltage and currentto determine the photovoltaic cell current, (d) using the photovoltaiccell voltage measured in step (b) and the photovoltaic cell currentdetermined in step (c) in a MPPT algorithm to determine the voltage atwhich the input-regulating element should operate the photovoltaic cellto achieve MPPT; and (e) adjusting the voltage at which theinput-regulating element is operating the photovoltaic cell to the leveldetermined in step (d).
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) to maintain MPPT during theoperation of the photovoltaic cell.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid input-regulating element is a hysteretic voltage comparator, saidcharacteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent is the switching frequency of the output wave form of thehysteretic voltage comparator and the current of the photovoltaic cellis determined using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b)and the relationship between the switching frequency of the output waveform of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cellvoltage and current.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein saidinput-regulating element is a hysteretic voltage comparator, saidcharacteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent is the switching frequency of the output wave form of thehysteretic voltage comparator and the current of the photovoltaic cellis determined using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b)and the relationship between the switching frequency of the output waveform of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cellvoltage and current.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said powerconverter interfaces with a microcontroller for performing the MPPT. 6.The method of claim 4, wherein said power converter interfaces with amicrocontroller for performing the MPPT.
 7. The method of claim 5,wherein the power converter has a circuit comprising: (i) first andsecond input terminals for connection to the photovoltaic cell providingan input voltage; (ii) a capacitor having a first terminal connected tothe first input terminal and a second terminal connected to the secondinput terminal; (iii) said hysteretic voltage comparator having at leastthree terminals, wherein a first terminal is an input terminal connectedto the first terminal of the capacitor, a second terminal is an inputterminal for inputting a reference voltage that sets the voltage atwhich the photovoltaic cell operates and a third terminal is an outputterminal; (iv) a switch having a first terminal connected to the thirdterminal of the hysteretic voltage comparator to thereby receive theoutput signal from the hysteretic voltage comparator, a second terminalconnected to the second terminal of the capacitor and a third terminal,whereby the output signal from the hysteretic voltage comparator servesto open and close the switch such that when the voltage on the capacitorexceeds the high threshold voltage of the hysteretic voltage comparatorthe switch is closed and when the voltage on the capacitor decreases tothe low threshold voltage of the hysteretic voltage comparator theswitch is open; (v) an inductor having a first terminal connected to thefirst terminal of the capacitor and a second terminal connected to thethird terminal of the switch; (vi) an output rectifier having a firstterminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a secondterminal; (vii) first and second output terminals, wherein the firstoutput terminal is connected to the second terminal of the outputrectifier and the second output terminal is connected to the secondterminal of the switch; and wherein the microcontroller interfaces withthe power converter using three i/O ports, wherein port 1 is connectedto the first terminal for connection to the photovoltaic cell and theanalog input to port 1 provides a measure of the photovoltaic cellvoltage to the microcontroller, port 2 is connected to the outputterminal of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the digital input toport 2 provides the output waveform of the hysteretic voltage comparatorto the microcontroller, and port 3 is connected to the second terminalof the hysteretic voltage comparator and the analog output of port 3provides the voltage in step (e) at which the hysteretic voltagecomparator operates the photovoltaic cell.
 8. The method of claim 6,wherein the power converter has a circuit comprising: (i) first andsecond input terminals for connection to the photovoltaic cell providingan input voltage; (ii) a capacitor having a first terminal connected tothe first input terminal and a second terminal connected to the secondinput terminal; (iii) said hysteretic voltage comparator having at leastthree terminals, wherein a first terminal is an input terminal connectedto the first terminal of the capacitor, a second terminal is an inputterminal for inputting a reference voltage that sets the voltage atwhich the photovoltaic cell operates and a third terminal is an outputterminal; (iv) a switch having a first terminal connected to the thirdterminal of the hysteretic voltage comparator to thereby receive theoutput signal from the hysteretic voltage comparator, a second terminalconnected to the second terminal of the capacitor and a third terminal,whereby the output signal from the hysteretic voltage comparator servesto open and close the switch such that when the voltage on the capacitorexceeds the high threshold voltage of the hysteretic voltage comparatorthe switch is closed and when the voltage on the capacitor decreases tothe low threshold voltage of the hysteretic voltage comparator theswitch is open; (v) an inductor having a first terminal connected to thefirst terminal of the capacitor and a second terminal connected to thethird terminal of the switch; (vi) an output rectifier having a firstterminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a secondterminal; (vii) first and second output terminals, wherein the firstoutput terminal is connected to the second terminal of the outputrectifier and the second output terminal is connected to the secondterminal of the switch; and wherein the microcontroller interfaces withthe power converter using three I/O ports, wherein port 1 is connectedto the first terminal for connection to the photovoltaic cell and theanalog input to port 1 provides a measure of the photovoltaic cellvoltage to the microcontroller, port 2 is connected to the outputterminal of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the digital input toport 2 provides the output waveform of the hysteretic voltage comparatorto the microcontroller, and port 3 is connected to the second terminalof the hysteretic voltage comparator and the analog output of port 3provides the voltage in step (e) at which the hysteretic voltagecomparator operates the photovoltaic cell.
 9. A method for Maximum PowerPoint Tracking (MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combinerthat combines the output power of the multiple photovoltaic cells into asingle output, the power combiner comprising a parallel arrangement ofmultiple circuits, wherein a different one of the multiple circuits isallocated to each of the multiple photovoltaic cells and wherein each ofthese multiple circuits is a complete power converter circuit or forms acomplete power converter circuit when connected to one or more sharedelements that these circuits share, the method comprising, for each ofthe multiple photovoltaic cells: (a) connecting the photovoltaic cell toits allocated circuit containing an input-regulating element that has anoutput wave form with a characteristic that is related to thephotovoltaic cell voltage and current and determining the relationshipbetween the characteristic of the output wave form and the photovoltaiccell voltage and current; (b) directly measuring the photovoltaic cellvoltage; (c) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b)and the relationship between the characteristic of the output wave formof the input-regulating element of the allocated power converter and thephotovoltaic cell voltage and current to determine the photovoltaic cellcurrent;; (d) using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b)and the photovoltaic cell current determined in step (c) in a MPPTalgorithm to determine the voltage at which the input-regulating elementof the allocated power converter should operate the photovoltaic cell toachieve MPPT; (e) adjusting the voltage at which the input-regulatingelement of the allocated power converter is operating the photovoltaiccell to the level determined in step (d).
 10. The method of claim 9,further comprising, for each of the multiple photovoltaic cells: (f)repeating steps (b) through (e) to maintain MPPT during the operation ofthe photovoltaic cell.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein saidinput-regulating element in each of the multiple circuits is ahysteretic voltage comparator, said characteristic that is related tothe photovoltaic cell voltage and current is the switching frequency ofthe output wave form of the hysteretic voltage comparator and thecurrent of the photovoltaic cell is determined using the photovoltaiccell voltage measured in step (b) and the relationship between theswitching frequency of the output wave form of the hysteretic voltagecomparator and the photovoltaic cell voltage and current.
 12. The methodof claim 10, wherein said input-regulating element in each of themultiple circuits is a hysteretic voltage comparator, saidcharacteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage andcurrent is the switching frequency of the output wave form of thehysteretic voltage comparator and the current of the photovoltaic cellis determined using the photovoltaic cell voltage measured in step (b)and the relationship between the switching frequency of the output waveform of the hysteretic voltage comparator and the photovoltaic cellvoltage and current.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein each of themultiple circuits interfaces with a microcontroller for performing MPPT.14. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the multiple circuitsinterfaces with a microcontroller for performing MPPT.
 15. The method ofclaim 13, wherein each of the multiple circuits is a complete powerconverter circuit.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein each of themultiple circuits is a complete power converter circuit.
 17. The methodof claim 13, wherein each of the multiple circuits forms a completepower converter circuit when connected to one or more shared elementsthat these circuits share and no more than one circuit is connected tothe one or more shared elements at any given time.
 18. The method ofclaim 14, wherein each of the multiple circuits forms a complete powerconverter circuit when connected to one or more shared elements thatthese circuits share and no more than one circuit is connected to theone or more shared elements at any given time.